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Explanation for:
Matthew
12
:
29
Or how can any one enter into the house of the strong, and rifle his goods, unless he first bind the strong? and then he will rifle his house.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"How can one possibly enter the abode of a mighty man and seize his possessions, unless he first restrains the mighty man and subsequently robs his home? We must remain vigilant: the strength of our foe is evident, as shown by his triumphant cries. His domain encompasses the entire world, which lies in wickedness (John 5:19), dependent not on the dignity of the Creator but rather on the grievous sins of the adversary. At one time, we too were his possessions. Now, he who holds great power is bound and confined to the realm of the dead, crushed beneath the foot of the Lord; and as the thrones of the harsh ruler were shattered, his captivity was taken captive."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Following the second rebuttal, He offers a third, stating, \\"How can someone enter the strong man's home and take his possessions unless he first binds the strong man and then plunders his house?\\" This indicates that it is evident from the earlier argument that Satan cannot drive out Satan. However, it is widely accepted that casting out Satan requires defeating him first. So, what do the words of Christ convey? They serve to elaborate on His previous statements. He essentially asserts, \\"I do not merely reject the devil as an ally; I actively engage with and bind him. The evidence of this is my plundering of his goods.\\" Observe how Christ counters the accusations made by the Pharisees against Him. They sought to demonstrate that He did not expel demons through His own authority; yet, He illustrates that it is not just the demons but also their leader whom He has bound and conquered by His own divine power. This fact is confirmed by the very actions He performs. If the devil is indeed the leader and the demons are his followers, how can the latter be captured unless the former is defeated? In these remarks, one may also discern a prophetic message. The demons are not only agents of the devil, but likewise men who carry out his deeds. Thus, it is clear that He not only casts out demons but also intends to eradicate all darkness of error in existence, unmaking the schemes of the devil and rendering them powerless. He did not say \\"He will steal,\\" but rather \\"He will plunder,\\" indicating His sovereign ability to do so. Christ refers to Satan as strong, not because of any inherent nature, but due to his previous significant influence over us, which was allowed through our negligence."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Christ refers to the devil as strong, not due to his essence, but to demonstrate the oppressive power he wields, which he has gained through our negligence. I will take from him what he wrongly possesses, ensuring he does not claim men as his followers, but rather guides them toward the knowledge of God. How can he stand as My supporter against his own interests? \\n\\nBy the strong man's house, which signifies Satan's domain, He refers to this earthly realm, and his vessels are those who share his corrupt mindset. Just as we name the saints as holy vessels, we can aptly designate those who plot all forms of evil as 'vessels of the devil.' Consequently, the Only-begotten Word of God, at His incarnation, entered the abode of the strong man—this world—and, having bound him and plunged him into the chains of darkness, as it is written, successfully stripped him of his possessions."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He states that he will distance himself from associating with demons to the extent of resisting and restraining them, which were powerful prior to my arrival. By entering the dwelling, that is, the world, Christ has taken away the possessions of demons, referring to the individuals."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He proceeds with the discourse on influence. He refers to the ruler of demons as powerful, not due to any inherent superiority, but because he has been an unchallenged despot, preying on those weakened by his neglect. His agents are demons who serve him, acting as his tools; hence the term vessels can be understood as instruments. This is why Luke referred to them as all his weapons (Luke 11:22), which he utilized to enslave unfortunate individuals. Through this illustration, Christ indicates that not only does He not ally with the ruler of demons, but He has also subdued his authority as his fiercest adversary. Therefore, it follows that just as no one can invade the home of a strong man and seize the possessions he safeguards without first binding the strong man, so too would He not drive out demons unless He first subdued the prince who empowers them. It is important to note that examples do not always accurately reflect every detail of the matters they illustrate, but often relate only in broader, essential aspects. Some suggest that the vessels of demons refer to the afflicted individuals whom Christ liberated by overcoming their power. Moreover, all who engage in deeds of the devil and yield to his whims may also be termed vessels of the devil."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Or how can anyone invade the strong man's dwelling and seize his possessions unless he first restrains the strong man? THEN HE WILL PLUNDER HIS HOUSE. Not only do I reject having the adversary as my ally, but I actively combat him and bind him. Do you see how many souls I am freeing from the grasp of Satan? This could not happen without first restraining Satan himself. The Lord referred to Satan as strong, not due to his true nature, but because of his power in deceiving and ensnaring the unsuspecting."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"How can anyone suggest such a thing? This serves as a third counterargument, which conveys the idea that not only do I refuse to align myself with the adversary, but I actively confront and restrain him. The evidence of this is my triumph over his dominion. The \\"house of the strong\\" refers to the realm of Satan, whom the Lord labels as strong not because of inherent power, but to highlight the significant authority he once had over humanity due to our negligence. The term \\"his belongings\\" denotes the tools that the master of this house employs for his sinister purposes. In the context of Satan's kingdom, these are the demons he manipulates for his various malevolent designs against humanity, as well as those individuals who carry out his wishes (see John 8:44). By casting out demons, I demonstrate that I have conquered the ruler of demons, thus reclaiming what belongs to him. I expel unclean spirits, dismantle the schemes of the devil and his servants, and eradicate the pervasive darkness of error and wickedness that the prince of darkness has imposed upon humankind. This imagery may be inspired by Isaiah 49:24 and following verses."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following the second rebuttal, He offers a third argument, asking, How can anyone enter the dwelling of a strong man and seize his possessions unless he first binds the strong man? It is evident from the previous discussion that Satan cannot expel Satan, and there is a consensus that casting out Satan requires defeating him first. So, what do Christ's statements signify? They serve to elaborate on what He has previously articulated. The Pharisees aimed to demonstrate that He did not expel demons through His own authority; however, He illustrates that He triumphed not just over demons, but over their leader by His own strength. If Satan is the ruler and the demons are his followers, how can the latter be taken captive if their master remains undefeated? Christ refers to Satan as strong, not because of his inherent nature, but to highlight the considerable power he once wielded over us due to our negligence."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The arrival of God's kingdom became achievable once the authority of the devil was vanquished. Within this defeat of the enemy's hold on humanity lies a profound counterargument against the accusations of the Pharisees. As the esteemed Theophylact elucidates, the Lord is so distanced from any alliance with demons that He actively opposes and restrains them, previously formidable before His advent. This sentiment is articulated by Jesus Christ in these words: “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe; but when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.”"},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The miracle of healing the blind man possessed by demons had a profound impact on the onlookers, leading many to question, \\"Could the one who healed him be the Messiah?\\" This positive sentiment could hardly be welcomed by Jesus' adversaries, the scribes and Pharisees, yet it was evident to all that the healing was an act of divine intervention. In response, they sought to distort the nature of this miracle, claiming that it was performed through the influence of Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. To dispel such accusations, Jesus presented two counterarguments: first, if He were to drive out demons by the power of Beelzebub, it would imply that Satan is turning against his own, which is illogical, for in that scenario, the dominion of Satan would collapse (25-26); second, if the Pharisees credited the exorcisms to Beelzebub, they should similarly explain the exorcisms performed by their own followers, a task they neither accomplish nor are willing to undertake (27). Jesus then offered a sound judgment regarding His own exorcisms: indeed, they are performed through the Holy Spirit (as described in Luke using the metaphor \\"by the finger of God,\\" v. 20), leading witnesses of these acts to recognize that the reign of Satan, who once tormented humanity, is being dismantled, signaling the arrival of the kingdom of God (28). Verse 29 underscores the necessity of this conclusion: if those held captive by Satan are liberated, it indicates that the Stronger One, namely the Messiah, has entered the domain of the strong one, Satan, defeated him, and is now liberating his captives. Following this, Jesus stated, \\"Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters\\" (the imagery in this second statement draws from agricultural harvests). If we view these words as a continuation of Jesus’ defense against the slanderous claims of the Pharisees regarding His use of Beelzebub, their implication is that there can be no affiliation between Beelzebub and Christ, as there is no neutral stance in one’s relationship with Christ; those who do not stand with Him stand against Him. Conversely, if this verse is related to the subsequent context, it serves as a caution and a warning to individuals wavering between allegiance to the Pharisees or siding with Christ."},{"author-name":"Nekrasow A.A. Prof.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The concluding phrase of this verse, \\"and then shall he plunder his house,\\" could be more accurately interpreted as \\"and then, that is, upon binding, he will surely plunder his house.\\" The Greek conjunction καὶ doesn't always signify \\"and\\" in a straightforward manner; it can also mean \\"and indeed.\\" In Greek, there are three forms of the future tense: first, the future indicative, second, the subjunctive, and third, the optative. The first indicates a future event that the speaker believes is certain to occur; the second conveys a future event that the speaker thinks is likely based on present evidence; and the third pertains to a future event that the speaker regards as merely hoped for or wished, lacking clear present evidence. Thus, it is appropriate to modify the first form with \\"indeed,\\" the second with \\"probably\\" or \\"it is probable,\\" and the third with \\"desirable\\" or \\"it is desirable,\\" when the context demands such adjustments."}]}
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